Friday, November 4, 2016

Recently, I have been having trouble sleeping and I find listening to music continuously, either an entire album or on repeat mode for a single track helps me fall into deep sleep. It helps me calm and just be lost in the lyrics or melody of a song. Last night I fell asleep to the sound of BOF ost.

Tonight I am going to play this track from 2PM 's latest album Gentlemen's Game, Make Love. Actually I find this song soothing and very romantic. The melody and the rhythm is very nice and it's kind of addicting if you start listening to it.

Fangirling is one of my hobbies ever since I find K-pop and idols fascinating. It's not wonder I am a fan of not only one group but multiple boy group who I find connection through their music. One is 2PM and Ok Taecyeon happens to be the number one boy [well he is a man now..time flies really fast!] in the group to make me laugh and enjoy his cute and dorky side.

In a recent event showcasing the mascots representing 2PM, crowds were surprised to realized that Taecyeon was actually inside okcat, the green cat when he decided to reveal himself before taking off the stage. A very cute surprise that really made the fans squealed in delight.

Truly a master at fanservice, Ok Taecyeon. Always surprising his fans. I love this side of him although everyone on the group are all nice and accommodating to fans.

This is my second writing since taking a break, I won't go into full recap/review of already ongoing series On The Way to the Airport. I started the drama from the beginning and it immediately captured my attention. Since the beginning I know that this will be a complicated plot, a story that will show the other side of forbidden love. But since I have always stand in the moral side but not readily judging of other's mistakes, I am open to exploring the depth of this complex drama.

Episode 13 was a revelation that is actually anticipated knowing the story is coming to it's climax. Choi Soo Ah and Suh Do Woo although get the sympathy of the viewers, and I think I am also somehow rooting for them, but because they are still attached to their other half legally, I am concerned of the flow of the story. Yes they have met under different circumstances, both already having their own marital problems, but it is not an excuse to justify the growing affection they found in each other. The comfort one gives to the other is okay as long as it does not cross that forbidden line. Od course, we viewers were already shown that one particular scene where both let go of their inhibitions and worries and just flew into each other's arms kissing passionately. It was a beautiful moment, ironically for a romantic me, but at the back of my mind, I knew, it was all wrong and there was no excuse enough to justify their actions.

After that, the situations got worse regarding their individual marriages. Yes, Soo Ah's husband is a jerk, a flirt and despite being responsible financially, he likes to live a bachelor life which is seriously wrong as a married man. With Hye Won, up to this moment, her only fault is lying about the existence of her daughter whom she abandoned and then when she appeared suddenly in her life, she concocted lies about her just so she can continue being the nice woman working with Do Woo's mother. I find her character cold and I think there are other women like her who exist in today's world. She is a workaholic and work is all that matters to her. That is her biggest flaw which for some reason I pity her because she has not enough love inside her to share with the people who loves her and matter to her. I think her happiness lies in the success of her career and Suh Do Woo was the means towards her goal.

The thing is both marriage is already suffering in different degree of problems but up until the moment Suh Do Woo and Choi Soo Ah crossed path, they were actually fine and worrying less. I don't think the events leading to the death of Annie would have made a big difference in his married life if not for the comfort he felt coming from Soo Ah. And of course Soo Ah on the other hand. I don't think she is clueless of her husband's flirting but because she is contented to just be a wife and a mother, she was actually enduring their differences on opinion when it comes to running the family or making decisions regarding her daughter.

Annie was the trigger that both party had to face and be jolted out of their own secluded and somehow comfort zone.

It was an affair of the mind...later of body..and now perhaps because the morality of the drama will be in question, Soo Ah and Do Woo appeared having an innocent forbidden love. Fate continues to make them meet, even now in Jeju where she thought she would find herself again away from Do Woo. But surprisingly, their worlds are too small for them. Isn't it just so....ridiculously destined?

So now we viewers are finding ourselves in a dilemma of whether to support the relationship they have or to be moral about it and say it is wrong. Personally, I find it wrong however you see it. They are engaging in a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship while still inside a marriage. Yes, Do Woo is working on his divorce but Soo Ah is still living a lie and I have not heard a single word from the story that she is ready to be separated legally from her husband. The timing is wrong. The relationship is definitely a no no. Some viewers may justify their actions but looking afar and taking a moment, no one would want to be in the situation of both Hye Won and Jin Seok [even if they are the worst spouse] and say it is okay and that they deserve to be cheated out of their marriage. Problems occur in any marriage and not one single is perfect, but adding an illicit affair to the problem makes it even more complicated.

I pity Mi Jin actually for being the one actually receiving the bad impression of her colleagues. She was the one who got cheated on by her ex boyfriend with now her best friend Soo Ah. She quietly endured the pain and tried to move on. But of course, it's no wonder why jerks from this planet always hold a candle from many women who were burned by their love and thrown away afterwards. Perhaps Mi Jin represents the other kind of woman they often called not marriage material? That is crap! Anyway I feel for Mi Jin's frustration that she acknowledges her mistake but why should she be the only one suffering the consequences of her actions.

Soo Ah has not been really caught by the people who mattered like her husband and Hye Won but in episode 13 she was acting as if she was not doing anything wrong in regards to her phone convo with Mi Jin. I find it wrong that she was actually blaming Mi Jin for her marriage. Now that she was having an affair, she was blaming her friend why she got married in the first place and that Mi Jin has the sole responsibility in stopping her in the first place knowing what kind of man Jin Seok is. Mi Jin was right, would she have not married Jin Seok if she told about them? It is not easy to say this kind of things or information to your friend, and with Mi Jin I think she value her friendship with Soo Ah that is why she stayed silent.

Now that Do Woo heard the one sided conversation of Soo Ah and Mi Jin which actually can be easily understood knowing he is involved he could not wait a day longer to go to Seoul and start processing the divorce.

Fate intervened to make the affair revealed. Hye Won who was ready to give her husband the papers after talking to Mrs. Hong went to Jeju.

Getting caught is never a nice feeling...

The slap was actually something I am already anticipating. Did Soo Ah deserved it? Personally, yes, I think that slap was really called for. Any wife, still wife would have the right to do that to the other woman. Was Hye Won wrong just because she was a lying bitch which was what most of the viewers see her as? Even Do Woo has the heart to accept her faults and so how can I as a viewer not understand that? Hye Won is selfish and self centered, but I think unless she betrayed Do Woo in the kind of fashion Soo Ah is betraying her husband, Hye Won is still in the right position to feel aggravated and mad why her husband is hurrying the divorce.

The ending is another surprise. Well, there is a saying "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" and Hye Won may not be after Do Woo's love anymore but she is still the legal wife. She can not wait to reveal the lies of Soo Ah to her husband perhaps, that's why Do Woo found himself facing Jin Seok outside his apartment. I am anticipating the result of this face off.Soo Ah needs to finish her marriage first, cleanly and then consider her daughter before accepting fully Do Woo. Maybe Do Woo is the right person but would her daughter feel the same way? After all, she has her real dad. I wonder if children will always want to let their parents find happiness in another man's arms or woman for that matter. A broken family is never a comfort to any child and unless they heal first I think that will be the only time a new person can be a part of their lives.This is a drama that opens a lot of insights to what a married life is, what things one gives up after marriage, what make them strong in the midst of marital differences and what the children played in coping up with the imperfect life of marriage. It also showed why affairs happen along the way.This is a story which reminds me of one of my favorite love story Falling In Love, a Robert de Niro and Meryl Streep movie. It was a painful journey to love.I hope that whatever the ending of this drama, it will be something really worth it at the end. I think it is better to have a time jump for I am for healing and a fresh start.This is only my personal opinion. Not hating but loving the complicated world of Do Woo and Soo Ah amidst their unacceptable affair. Just hoping for something that will make it a life's lesson to everyone.-mlsee1107-

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Thanks to the owner of this compiled on soundtracks of Moonlovers. I am now able to listen on these amazing compositions continuously. Seriously, this drama has produced unforgettable sounds that added depth in every scenes. The songs pull me and makes my heart flutter or cry randomly.

For now I will just share my quick reactions after watching episodes 19 and 20 of Scarlet Heart Ryeo [Moonlovers]. It is as if I am starting to write again, my mind's a bit half empty 😜. Well, I really love this drama and for those who have always visited this page I am sure you know how I love tragic endings. It has more impact than "and they live happily ever after" for me. Or maybe I am insane...lol! Always want to have my heart ripped apart and then long for a romance that can not be.

These thoughts were already shared via my Facebook page.
Well. mslee1107 is back from hiatus!

Random thoughts on Scarlet Heart Ryeo

episode 19 of #scarletheartryeo is just so heartbreaking. But my heart goes out to the King. As an outsider i have the full view of what's going on and can understand the characters from their own point of view.

I can feel the pain and the betrayal Wang So felt when truth about Wook and Hae Soo's past caught up with him. Maybe it was not really a big deal anymore, but with things happening between Hae Soo and So, the constraint of their relationship is hard for both of them, that tidbit made a lot of impact on So's trust issues towards Hae So.

It pains me to see him in so much pain. He loved her with all of his heart, made decisions because of her most of the times giving in to his enemies, but seeing her folds her knees and begs for Wook's life is too much to handle for So.

It somehow created a misunderstanding between them and how her love for him seemed fake all this time.

She was supposed to give him strength and support to stay in power and be his happiness after a long day, but then, Yeon Hwa showed what real support is towards So, even if there is a motive behind her every move. Still, she was ready to sacrifice everything even her family. this only showed that she is going to do anything and in turn not turn her back on So.

I think without the decree Jung showed, Yeon Hwa would be tolerating Hae Soo's place by So's side as long as she stays the powerful Queen. But the story ended this way and so my heart squeezes for the pains and sufferings of So.

I envy the closure Hae Soo had with Wook. Setting aside the prejudices i had formed towards him, it was a good closure for them both. it showed how he still loved her and perhaps regretting everything that happened between them. Hae Soo seemed at peace with herself towards her emotions to Wook which I find unfair because So whom she at the very end narrated within herself she loved deeply, she felt only sadness and perhaps bitterness at the outcome of her love.

She was full of regrets towards meeting him...

love should not be a regret. even if it turned sour, it should not be a regretful feeling.

Just like my thoughts previously posted here, I envy the closure Hae Soo had with Wook. Viewers need closure too for her and Wang So. He along with millions of viewers were deprived of that closure. It would have been beautiful if she died in his arms.

Well, I can say that the final episode although heart wrenching is still a beautiful episode. It is a haunting experience for me that will linger for a while. All the characters are unforgettable particularly Baek Ah who remained loyal and true to his brother So until the very end. I also love the final scenes of Wook. In another drama, it said that he has one true love and pertaining not to Hae Soo that both he and So loved. Guess it was his wife who died. It was sad that Wook aged while being exiled to his home. Even a villain like him can capture a viewer's sympathy in the end.

As for So, I cried for his loss, for his greatest love and for the lonely road he took alone when everyone was gone. He was a good King in the story, perhaps left amazing deeds in the history but in the story, he was longing inside. Glad that he met his daughter and realized she was his and Hae Soo. The scene deprived me of seeing him overjoyed and embracing the child but of course, he knew he had to act indifferent to protect the child. After all it was Hae Soo's dying wish. Jung was a good father and I guess, the child was a compensation to his also longing heart for Hae Soo.

Beautiful OST, beautiful cinematography, the story wrapped up nicely [except for my most awaited closure between So and Hae Soo] and amazing cast. It was almost perfect...well, it will of course be on my top list of unforgettable drama. For sure!

watching episode 20 of #scarletheartryeo twice gives me the same feelings of heartache but at the same time I was able to appreciate the ending the second time around. It was really beautifully written. Hauntingly beautiful. That feeling of melancholy lingers even up to this moment I am typing my thoughts.

Regarding the soundtracks of the drama, there was a particular background instrumental, it reminded me of a similar sounds used in the movie Legends of the Fall, another tragic movie I really loved to this day.

in another worldin another lifetimesurely, they will meet again...[insert FALLEN saga]😉

I guess the ending scene somehow compensate for viewer's aching heart. It left a happy picture of So and Soo. Again this is reminiscent of Six Flying Dragon's romance between Lee Bang Won and Boon Yi whose fate was also destined to be apart but in the ending scene showed the two of them talking, and viewers have to be satisfied with that.

More thoughts on the actors and their characters...

For Lee Jun Ki who acted with so much passion, hats off to you! You were the face of the drama. The very essence why the story was so beautiful. You have conquered the hearts of millions of viewers.

For Kang Ha Neul who portrayed a very complicated character of deviousness, you have again impressed me with your acting abilities until the very end. It was a memorable scene at the end when you look exactly how a man who had lost everything should look like as he wasted his years with broken wings.

IU - the charismatic character of Hae Soo was really nice and you have shown that you can be her and be loved by all the princes. Viewers shared your pains and longings. I appreciated your first love and it was a wonderful journey to be with you as you realized Wang So was the man you could finally give your heart and soul until your last breath.

Nam Joo Hyuk has the most charming appearance and character. His loss [twice] was unbearable but he was able to move on and pick up the pieces while staying loyal to So. Baek Ah will always be a favorite character of mine. How I wish your character will inspire any writer to write your own story and surely I will be the first to watch it.

Hong Jong Hyun - who would have thought you would be able to carry the villain character amazingly? Your progress as an actor and as Wang Yo was great. I loved your dying scene where you became vulnerable and was able to show your true emotions why you were ruthless. I still remember your excuse... that you were also only trying to survive. And oh boy, you got me there! Bravo!

Baek Hyun made the drama light but towards his end, the way his character Eun died put me in tears. I love how he had realized the worth of his wife before he died.

And to all the other Princes and characters of this drama, everything were put in their proper places, chemistry was good that's why the overall appeal and charisma of the drama is worth watching.